Due to the prevalence of the coronavirus, the authorities have implemented measures for travelers from all countries with reported cases of the coronavirus, among others. a. 14 day quarantine requirement in a third country prior to entry into Kiribati. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health.
Safety
Most trips to Kiribati are completed without any special problems. There is no Norwegian foreign service station in Kiribati.
The risk of terrorist incidents in Kiribati is considered low. It is low crime in Kiribati.
It is recommended to take normal precautions. Women are warned not to walk alone in the evening, although the risk of assault is small.
Homosexuality is illegal.
It is a left-hand drive in Kiribati. The road standard is varied and relatively poor. Alcohol-driven driving occurs, especially on weekends.
Some of the southernmost islands are located very low and are particularly prone to sea level changes. Kiribati is affected by high tides and occasional drought. The archipelago lies between two cyclone belts and storms therefore normally pass Kiribati. The cyclone season is from November to April. High seismic activity in the area puts Kiribati at risk of tsunamis.
Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period of time in Kiribati are encouraged to register on www.reiseregistrering.no.
Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.
Local emergency numbers: Ambulance 994/999, fire 993/999, police 992/999
In case of crisis or emergency, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour operating center on tel. +47 23 95 00 00 or e-mail UDops@mfa.no
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegian citizens need a visa to travel to Kiribati. Contact the immigration authorities in Kiribati for more information:
Principal Immigration Officer,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
PO Box 68, Bairiki Tarawa,
Kiribati.
A valid passport, exit ticket and proof that you can pay for your stay must be presented on arrival in Kiribati.
Only passports are accepted as identification documents.
It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents are valid. It is recommended to check in advance if it is allowed to visit islands and beaches.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): Due to the prevalence of the virus, the authorities of March 17, 2020, have initiated measures for travelers from all countries with reported cases of the coronavirus, among others. a. 14 day quarantine requirement in a third country prior to entry into Kiribati. Information about the measures can be read on the Ministry of Health and Medical Services website and their official Facebook page. It is the authorities of Kiribati who are responsible for updating the websites.
Norwegian travelers should also keep abreast of the development of the corona virus, as well as keep up to date with guidance and instructions from the authorities in Kiribati.
You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
***
There is no danger of yellow fever in Kiribati, but proof of yellow fever vaccine is required if you arrive from a country at risk of yellow fever. Norway is not such a country. See this list for yellow fever countries.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine before entering Kiribati. See here for more information.
Practical information
I-Kiribati is the official language of Kiribati, but English is widely used. Australian Dollar is the official currency. Most hotels take Visa and Mastercard, as well as traveler’s checks. ATMs can be found at Tarawa and Kiritimati.
Kiribati is ten hours ahead of Norway.
According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Kiribati is +686. The telephone network is unstable and the internet is not widely used. The Internet domain is .ki.
Normal office hours are Monday to Friday 8am – 4:30 pm. Banks are open from 09:30 – 15:00 Monday to Friday.
240 volts is standard for electrical outlets.
Tipping is not expected.
The temperature in Kiribati is between 26 and 31 degrees. There is a tropical, humid climate with rainy season from November to April.
Public Holidays: January 1 – First New Year’s Day, March 8 – International Women’s Day, Good Friday, 2nd Easter Sunday, July 8 – Gospel Day, July 11 – Free before National Day, July 12 – National Day, July 13 – Liberation Day, July 15 – Unaine (older women’s day), August 5 – Youth Day, October 7 – Education Day, December 6 – Human Rights and Peace Day, December 25 – Christmas, December 26 – Christmas.